Fire-escape ladder



2 SheetsSheet 1.

(No Model.)

L. SWENSON.

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

No. 316,415. Patented Apr. 21, 1885.

WITNESSES: d.% .1;

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

L. SWENSON.

FIRE ESCAPE LADDER.

No. 316,415. Patented Apr 21, 1885.

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OF CRESCO. IOWA.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

si ncrrrcarrom forming part camel's Patent No. 316,415, dated 21, less.Application filed April 11, 18;. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, LORENS SwENso a citizenof the United States, residing at Oresco, in the count-y of Howard andState of Iowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFire-Escape Ladders, of which the following is aspccification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to improvements in portable fire-escape ladders andhose-elevators; and it consists in the construction, arrangement,'andoperation of the several parts, as will be hereinafter more fully setforth in the specification, and pointed out in the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a perspective view of my device, showingthe ladder in its raised position. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of thehoisting mechanism. Fig. 3is asection of same; Fig. 4, a side elevationof one part of the hoistinggear; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the truckwith the lad der folded thereon, and Fig. 6 a detail side view of thespring-drum.

The upper sections of the ladder are extended or raised on the samegeneral principles as the extension-ladder granted to me in LettersPatent of the United States No. 284,683, September 11, 1883. The meansfor raising the first section differ materially therefrom, as will beexplained.

The ladder here shown is mounted upon a truck consisting of therunninggear frame A and wheels B. I have here shown only twov sections,0 C; but the principle is the same for any suitable number of sections.These sections 0 C may be of wood or metal, as de sired. The lowersections, 0, are mounted on the transverse axis L, upon which are alsomounted the hosedrurn H and the gear-wheels m a. A flange, h, at oneside and the flange of the wheel m at the opposite side of said drum Hprevent the hose from slipping. A coiled spring, (one or more,) K, issecured to and is wound upon the drum, having flanges K K Fig. 3. Thegear-wheels in a mesh with the wheels m a on the shaft M, upon which iswound the rope k, which raises and lowers the upper ladder-sections, asin my former patent before referred to. The rope for raising the basketD is secured at one end to and is wound upon the drum or shaft G, whichcan be actuated at either side of the truck by i suitable cranks, suchas g. The upper end of cordl passes over the pulley g. and has securedto it sustaining-ropes for the basket or platform D. This basket ispreferably covered with asbestus cloth, so as to prevent heat- 111 lowerend of the hose E hasa coupling for attac'hing the hose to anengine-coupling pipehose or to a coupling-hose for a fire-plug in suchplaces where water-works are used. The hose passes along the firstsection, 0, over a roller, h, secured to the frame by the staybandsorhousingf, the upper end-of the hose being secured to the upper sectionby a stayband, z. The drum of coiled spring K being rigidly mounted uponshaft L, when this shaft is moved the spring is wound or unwound, asfollows: The shaft M, upon which the rope la is wound, is secured to thesect-ion O by means of the straps 1/, attached to the bearings U, Fig.2. This shaft carries the meshing wheels m n, and is actuated by thecrank T. A cogwheel, S, is also mounted upon said shaft at one side, andis controlled by a dog, 0, and clutch s. A cogwheel, Q, is mounted uponthe shaft Q at the outside of the frame, and a pinion. q, engaging withthe segment 1), is secured to said shaft on the inside, as shown indotted lines, Fig. 4. The toothed segment is rigidly secured to andmoves with the section 0. Suppose now the sections are in'their closedpositions, as in Fig. 5, the cords or ropes wound upon their respectivedrums, the spring and hose also wound on their drums, and it is desiredto raise the ladder. It can be done in two ways-first, automatically;second, by hand. The springs I K will raise the sections automaticallyas follows: The spring K, as before described, is wound on a drum orshaft, H, and therefore exerts a force to turn said shaft. Now releasethe dog B, Fig. 4, and the dog '0 and clutch 8, Figs. 1 and 5, whichprevent the cog-wheels S and Q from moving. This action tends to releasethe spring Kfrom its confined position, and by its resiliency it acts tounwind. As it does so it turns the shaft L, and therefore the wheels mit. These in turn move the wheels m a and turn shaft M, and cause thelower section to be elevated; but as this is moved to an uprightposition the segment 19 engages with pinion q,causing it to move. Of

Fvhen the ladder-sections are extended. the

' course, as the first section moves up the other sections move out atthe same time and at a differential rate of speed. This action of thesections draws up the hose and the basket D.

The ladder may be raised at once vertically or at any desired angle ofinclination. The pawls and the dogs before described may be thrown intoengagement with their respective cog-.

wheels at any desired point and the ladder held in that position. It isof course obvious that the ladder can be raised by means of thecrank-arms attached to the endsof the respective shafts, as shown anddescribed.

The truck can be stopped at the side of the street opposite the fire,the ladder raised to the desired height and inclination, and then thetruck moved forward or backward, as the Y necessities of the caserequire; or the truck can be'run'up quickly to a burning window, aperson or persons be taken on the basket D, and the truck run quicklyback,and the basket then lowered without the danger of descending pastthe lower windows. Again,when the hose is placed inthis positionthefireman or pipe-man at the top of the ladder can direct the waterwithout effort to any particular point, this being done by the men atthe cranks and trucks,who can change the inclination and position of theladder very quickly.

If the basket D is not needed, it can be disengaged from the ladder.

When the sections descend, the shafts L'M are turned in the oppositedirection from that just described, and the spring K again wound up,ready for use.

7 turned back upon the truck-frame.

The sections are then wheels m n and m n,meshing into each other, andspring K,with suitable pawl-and-ratchet gear at the ends of the shafts LM to control the motion of said shafts, whereby the sections of theladder and hose-pipe are elevated at the same time, substantially asdescribed.

2. In a fire-escape ladder, the combination of the truck A B andsections and G, fitting within each other, and having at the lower endthe mechanism for elevating the hose,the mechanism for elevating thesection of the ladder, as also the mechanism for elevating thesafety-basket, and provided at its top with a pulley, h, and clamp i'forholding and guidingthe hose, and pulleys e g for the elevatorrope, allsubstantially as described, for the purv pose specified.

3. In a portable fire-escape ladder, the combin-ation, with the truckand movable sections of the ladder, of a hose-drum and gear-wheels m non the axis of the movable sections, said drum being provided with sideflanges to prevent the slipping of the drum, substantially as set forth.

4. In a portable fire-escapeladder, the combination,with the truck andmovable sections,

of a flanged hose-drum and gear-wheels m n,

and one or more coiled springs wound upona drum provided with flanges,substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a portable fire-escape ladder, the combination,with the truck andmovable sections, of a hose-drum, ashaft for the rope oftheladder-sections and'gearing therefor, a shaft for the basket-rope andgearing therefor, and a revolving shaft on the truck,to which one ormore coiled springs and gearing therefor are attached, whereby theladder may be raised, lowered, and adjusted substantially in the mannerand for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LORENS SWENSON:

Witnesses:

JOHN F. LYDON, H. A. AXTELL.

